Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1887-12-07

luc otofy VI Shoquutb ho'SheUioS
would fill volume. but ] will relate
only one, wherein acted as his sec
ond.
One night, at a masked ball, Cho-
quart quarreled with Turk. Cards
were exchanged. The following day,
Choquart, with his two seconds. went
to his adversary's house. The Turk OF
the previous evening turned out to be
a well-to-do upholsterer, who carried
on business IN the Saint-Martin quar-
ter. On entering the premises, Cho-
quart inquired after M. Ballu.
what can do for youp" asked a
young and pretty woman. who came
forward from the back of the shop.
| STUFF and nonsense! ! don't like
jokingin matters Of serious Importance.
My aamc Is Choquart. ] come for an
affair of honor. A gentleman shouldn't
be made to wait in this manner. Your
husband Is an ill-bred dog"
"Oh. excuse me, now ] know what
brings you. This Is what have to say.
My husband went out yesterday to
spend the carnival, and 1t has made
him Ill. He is in bed, and spits blood"
"Dear me-" remarked Choquart,
turning toward his seconds, "what a
mischance! He spits blood, did you
sayp"
"Alas! yes sir" answered the young
woman, who seemed much affected,
and the doctor says that he has not six
months to i've"
"Dear mev' went on repeating
Choquart. splitting blood. How shall
we settle matters, thenP Hasn't six
months to live. Well, madame. I'm
not bad fellow. whatever others may
think. Now, listen to what have to
say. We are in January, aren't wep
Just so. Well. I'll give your husband
six months 20 be buried in. Ishall call
around and pay my respects six months
hence. II, in July next, your husband
isn't dead and buried. I'll treat him as
knave and deceiver, and placard his
name in all the barracks of Paris"
This threat, which constantly fell
from Choquart's lips, was reminis-
cence of his soldier life. The thought
never suggested itself that an uphol-
sterer might not care the jingle Of
brass farthing whether his name were
placarded or not in all the barracks of
the country.
Ono fine afternoon in July Of that
same year, Choquart took hold of my
arm at the Varieties coffee-house, and
said
"Come along with me, old boy;
have q small matter which I real
ly must clear up without further loss of
time"
We took road which led toward the
Saint-Martin quarter, and, as we
walked along, Choquart entered cir
substantially into the particulars of
the case. The upholsterer's day of
reckoning had arrived, and Choquart
was bent on finding out whether ms
former Turk had paid the funeral draft
Endorsed six months previously by his
| wife.
IT." soliloquized Choquart, "the
| rogue is still alive, I'll cut off both his
ears, you know. I'm justified in so
doing, am notp"
''Of course you are. my dear fellow.
But, let me ask, the thing occurred
long ago, didn't il, and in tho carnival
season. And again, what did tho fell
low do to warrant such feudp"
What did he do. the villaine just
listen, and I'll tell you. I was ut a
masked ball given at the Renaissance
Theater. j walked into the green
room. In my dress suit. I am spare Of
limb, as you can see. Suddenly Turk
stopped directly in front of me. and
bawled out: 'Halloo, there goes the
Fat Ok! Make way, please, for the
Fat Ox!' Everybody roared Mt this
sally. was downright vexed, as you
may suppose. So made up to him
and said: My merry friend. at noon
tomorrow you shall be dead mani I"
HE was in the wrong. certainly" I
pleaded, ITO insinuate 80 invidious n
comparison between thin man like
you and fat OK; but"
We had reached our destination.
Entering the shop, we came upon NJ.
Ballu, the upholsterer, who all budding
and blooming. was busy working at a
parcel of goods.
"Oh, that's your little game, Is itp"
began Choquart, as soon rs he set eyes
on his intended victim. You're
alive, thenP thought as much. But
you don't play the monkey with me
any longer, Mister Turk; you've caught
the wrong SOW by the ear this time,
let me tell your
Monsieur Choquart!' exclaimed the
merchant.
Eyes, sir, my name is Choquart-
Cho9uart, do you hear. sirp-who'll
have none Of this tomfoolery. Your
wifc-wherc is she, your wifep She's
young and pretty, but wants to run O
rig upon me. Your wife, say, averred
that you were on your last logs and
would be dead no herring in less
than six months, and here you are.
alive and kicking. Now Is that the
way you keep your cngagementsp'
" All! Monsieur Choquart, reioIned
the merchant, who had somewhat re-
covered from his first fright, IL have
been i'll, very Ill, indeed. You'll never
see me don the Turkish garb again.
| IT'S over now. So let mo ask you to
forgive and forget any improper thing
may have said on that eventful
night"
Zone moment" said Choquart. mot
quite so fast. please. Do not tender
your excuses in the regular formp'
"Faith, l don't quite understand
what form that is. But this ! know,
for i haSc inquired about you and
learned that you are right good fell
low. Come, l have roasted leg of
mutton with kidney-beans. viii you
do me the honor to dine with me, you
and your friendp My wife will be